Abortions could be made illegal outside the NHS in Northern Ireland
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Two Northern Ireland Assembly members have tabled a joint amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill making it illegal for abortions to take place outside the National Health Service.
The proposals, brought forward by DUP's Paul Givan and the SDLP's Alban Maginness, were introduced in response to the opening of a private Marie Stopes International (MSI) abortion clinic in Belfast last year.
Concerns
Mr Givan, chair of the assembly's justice committee, expressed concerns that private clinics such as MSI were being permitted to perform abortions in Northern Ireland without "any form of transparency, oversight or accountability".
He added: "We're responding to the challenge that was presented when the Marie Stopes clinic opened in Northern Ireland and that revealed a loophole that private clinics are wholly unregulated, there's no form of accountability, no transparency.
Scrutiny
"Obviously on something as important as abortion, which is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland, we need to be satisfied that that issue is subject to the highest level of scrutiny.
"We believe the National Health Service is best placed to do that."
"Further it is dangerous that any organisation should receive financial reward from carrying out abortions."
The amendment will be debated next Tuesday (5 March) when the Criminal Justice Bill enters the “further consideration” stage. If passed into law, those who perform abortions outside the NHS NHS could face 10 years imprisonment or a fine.
Currently, abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal and are only permitted in exceptional circumstances where the life of the pregnant woman is at immediate risk and if there is a long term or permanent risk to her physical or mental health.
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